A decade before Belinda Stronach met Tie Domi, she had an affair with another ex-Maple Leaf, Jerome Dupont, his ex-wife says.

"It's obviously a pattern for her, but I don't think it should be used against her and her ability as a politician," says Caroline Dupont, who has two children, aged 15 and 17, with the former Leaf.

"Her private life should stay separate from her public life," she told the Sun yesterday.

Stronach -- who wasn't named in the Duponts' divorce -- was portrayed as Tie's mistress in divorce papers filed by his wife, Leanne Domi.

Allegations filed by Leanne in divorce documents have not been tested in court. In documents filed by Tie, he says he won't respond to each of his wife's allegations but admits the marriage is over.

The Dupont-Stronach affair was mentioned in a "semi-authorized" Stronach biography by National Post columnist Don Martin, which will be released Thursday.

"Stronach does admit to several little-known love affairs, which underscores a preference for tall, muscular former athlete types," Martin writes in Belinda, The Political and Public Life of Belinda Stronach.

Montreal Alouettes defensive end Marc Megna and Jerome Dupont, who retired after a season with the Leafs but played five seasons for Chicago in the '80s, were mentioned as her ex-lovers.

Although the Dupont affair is over, Stronach says in the book they're still friends. She occasionally drops the puck for the Aurora Tigers junior A hockey club, which he coaches.

Caroline Dupont discovered the affair in 1995. But she doesn't blame Stronach for ending her union of 15 years.

"I don't feel anyone is capable of breaking up someone else's marriage," Caroline said. "We just grew apart ... Jerome is a fine man and a good father and he has more than made amends. I don't have anything against him or Belinda Stronach."